Protectorate of Highvale

The Protectorate of Highvale is a nation in northern Galessia. A member of the Alliance of Overmyre, it is bordered in the south and west by the Dwarven Kingdom of Starn, in the east by Abingdon and the Kingcity of Herdskeep, in the north by the Sea of Storms, and in the northwest by the Ossyeardan commune of Ossgate through the Windchill Pass. A nation famed for its stability, rule of law, and its long lineage of noble warrior heroes, the Protectorate is a strong nation with a wide domain and powerful military. Its current ruler is Lady Protector Lisan of the Stalwart Shield.

History

At the height of the Darksky War, which saw the widespread dismantling of the Ancient Dwarven Empire, newly arrived human crusader forces first crossed the River Myre. In the northern lands, they met with the displaced storm and cinder goliaths, and allied themselves to their cause: to drive the dwarves out of the lowlands and not relent until they've retreated to the mountains. The honorable crusaders fought tooth and nail, given that the dwarves had established castles and bulwarks in the lowlands north of the Starn Mountains. Nevertheless, after years of war, they succeeded in their aim. The leader of the crusader army, a man named Kenric, vowed to protect the lands from dwarven retaliation until the day he died. Staking the humans' claim in the north, this general founded the city of Highvale - named after his home hamlet in Fennerland - and styled himself the first Lord Protector. Thus, the Protectorate of Highvale was born. As one of the earliest human nations on the continent, the Protectorate fought many wars over the centuries, always in the name of justice and order. Bands of dwarves, and settlements that openly allied themselves with the mountaindwellers, would often be overrun by the Valan crusaders, honoring the promise made by Lord Protector Kenric the Founder and every Lord or Lady Protector after him. However, through this, they also occupied many of their surrounding lands, ostensibly to safeguard them for perpetuity - thereby snuffing out many young settlements and fledgling nations before they ever had the chance to develop. Two hundred and fifty years ago, a Valan woman named Cassandra Corania was visited in her dream by an avatar of Helm, God of Protection, who warned her of a grave threat that Highvale was to face in the future. Through divination and prayer, the threat was given form in a prophecy, which spoke of a girl that was to be born with a mark in her neck, denoting her as the bearer of the storm that would bring ruin to Highvale. Carried forward through the centuries by word of mouth, the words and songs of many bards and skalds turned this prophecy into the tale of the Little Tempest of Highvale. When the Sovranty of the Wendrough brought grave tidings about a war in the south, the ever valiant Valans jumped at the call to protect and defend the people of the north, as they had done for so long. One of the main parties at the table during the Meeting of the North, Lady Protector Lisan was the main tactician behind the newly-forged Alliance's war plans, and led the charge of the Allied Armies toward the Rivers Myre and Wendrough. When the Samans of Starn intervened to halt their approach, however, the Valans redirected their efforts into their time-honored tradition of fighting against the dwarves, leaving the other three armies to hold the line at the Myre. The war against the Samans in Balkholme was a stalemate, and at war's end, the border was still where it was at its inception - which the Valan crusaders saw as a victory. Since the end of the Zenith War, the Protectorate has calmed down again, keeping its watchful eyes over its domain and its allies' domains, always ready to go where they are needed to uphold justice and order.

Geography

The Protectorate is a cold nation, located in the Snow Quarter, wedged in a corner between two large mountain chains and the unnavigable Sea of Storms. It receives much snowfall, yet still has a warm enough summer so that hardy agriculture is possible, and practiced plentifully. The tall, hilly forests of the Protectorate are vast and often unexplored - the city of Highvale presents itself as the sole bastion of safety in this hostile region. Exacerbating this reputation, a large section of the northern forest, known as the Deadwood, is notorious for the eerie fact that the trees are completely without leaves or needles. Many tales exist of dark arts, necromancy, the living dead, and other terrifying aberrations in this forest. Regardless, other communities do exist outside of Highvale, especially hidden against the northern flanks of the Starn Mountains that form the Protectorate's southern frontier. The roads are well-patrolled and maintained, especially the Corridor of Merchandise, the road leading into the city from the frigid Ossyeard. This is important, as many dangerous creatures lurk within the often dark and cold wilderness, and travellers frequently lose their lives to their attack. Trolls are very common in the region. Adventurers hoping to uncover riches such as Moradin's Treasures in the many ruins in the south are advised to practice caution.

Politics and society

The Protectorate of Highvale is governed by the Lord or Lady Protector, an often revered figure within the city. The Protector is selected on merit by the Vigilant Eyes, the Helmite order that is sworn to protect Highvale and all Valans. They almost always select one among their own, unless extraordinary circumstances dictate otherwise - such as with Lady Protector Cassandra Corania the Helmspeaker. On the tenth anniversary of their reign, the Protector receives an honorary title to denote a special feat they achieved or some other unique aspect of their rule. In everyday rule, matters are handled by the Eyes, and the Protector only attends to important matters - and acts as the city's judge. It is possible, however difficult, for a citizen of Highvale to request an audience with the Protector. As a member of the Alliance of Overmyre, the Protectorate is close with many of its allies, seeing their peoples as extension of its own. The exception to this are the Abingdonians: their single-minded worship of a bringer of storms ruffles the storm-fearing Valans the wrong way. It is long rumored that a war plan against Abingdon has been prepared in case it is ever needed. Outside of the Alliance, however, the Protectorate has made many powerful enemies - most notably, the Kingdom of Grasynnia and the Dwarven Kingdom of Starn due to their actions in the Zenith War. Furthermore, the March of Yarsol further up the Corridor of Merchandise is considered a threat, and is monitored closely by frequent inspection parties. Humans, half-dragons, and goliaths are all common in the Protectorate. The population of aasimar within Highvale exceeds that of any other known location, and while this is often considered happenstance, many within the Protectorate see it as a sign of divine favor. Some of the hardier halflings have migrated here too, after many of them got lost in the shuffle during the war in Balkholme. Never has the Protector been anything but a human, however. A common experience within the Protectorate is that humans are considered somehow inherently superior to other species, especially among the Eyes, who are almost exclusively human. They balk at the notion, however, as they are sworn to protect all Valans, no matter their blood - except dwarves, who are prohibited from entering the city. The worship of Helm is very prominent within the Protectorate, and as the Protector is usually chosen from among a Helmite order, almost all Protectors worship the Great Guard. Tyr also receives veneration in Highvale, and both these deities have a large temple devoted to them in the city's inner district. Worship of the Five Scorned is very explicitly outlawed here, and anyone found to openly worship or proselytize the dark divines will be thrown in the city's gaol.